Multiquestion quiz game and scoring device



July 31, 1951 R. H. DoRF 2,562,179

MULTIQUESTION QUIZ GAME AND SCORING DEVICE Filed Aug. ll, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l K /17 29 /26 -xa/ 35 /32 l mi INVENTOR. RICHARD H. DORP BY n/w www? `Fuly 3l, 1951 R. H. DORP 2,562,179

MUETIQUESTION QUIZ GAME AND SCORING DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RiCHARD H. DonF July 3l, 1951 R. H. DORF MULTIQUESTION QUIZ GAME AND SCORING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. l1, 1948 INVENTOR. Y RiCHARD H. DORF Patented July 31, 1951 2,562,179 y MULTIQUEs'rIo'N QUIZ GAMEfANDwscotrNGj, )f I DEVICE; i r l.

Richard H. Dorf, New York, N. Y.

Application August 11, 1918, serial No. assisi,n

This invention relates to a quiz game and more particularly to a multi-question quiz game, and still more particularly to a scoring device for judging contestants answers.

It is an object of my invention to provide a device for judging contestants answers wherein the element of time for answering with relation to another constestant is a factor for consideration.

More specically, it is an object of my invention to provide a scoring device which may be employed in the form of a game whereby a plurality of contestants are afforded the opportunity to manually indicate their answers by actuation of asignalling device which, in point of time, serves t'o cut out or render inoperative the signalling device of another contestant, if simultaneous action not secured.

Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a scoring device for judging the answers of contestants to multiple choice questions not only to determine the accuracy of answer but also to judge, in point of time, the order of answering. y .Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide a game wherein multiple choice questions are presented to a group of contestants and a quiz master or control device predetermines the actuation of signalling means whereby contestants may actuate signalling means only where the correct answer has been selected, and still more particularly, to determine, by signalling means of a contestant, the rst contestant eiecting the correct selection of answer and the actuation of the signalling means indicates such selection.

Thus it is an object of my invention to provide a gamey or scoring device in which a group of contestants are examined for reaction time testing, as well as for correctness of selection of answers to multiple choice questions.

To attain these objects and such further objectsA as may appear herein, or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing forming apart hereof, in whichy l'igu're 1 is a wiring diagram illustrating one form of my device;

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the association of the elements therefor;

, Figure 3 is a magnied perspective veiw of anV automatic control;

. VVFigure 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3;`

,Y Figure 5 is a sectional diagrammatic view of another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the operating mechanism. l j

Making reference to the drawings, my device contemplates the provision of a scoring device for judging contestants to whom a choice of an- 5 claims. (C1. 35-48) A:a swers maybe presented in'a marmer now referred to as multiple lchoicequestions.y The contestants have the option'ofscoring which of the questions are true or false, or selecting which of a plurality of probable lanswers ,is lthe correct one.V` While scoring of this'character is lknown to me, it is contemplated by me ,to secure a device for scoring the accuracy ofthe answer'as well as the reaction time with regard to another contestant.

Accordinglyil have. provided a device in the form of V'a game 'wherein' a'plurality of contestants may manually lactu'atela signalling device with as many possiblepoints'ofselection as will conform tothe multiple 'choicen'questions Thereupon a predetermination of the correct answer by a control, wfhetl'ier manual or automatic, will leave it to Vthecontestant to vsignal the answer and with regard to other contestants, the actuation of the correct signal will blockout or render inoperative, the ability to actuate the signal by the control means vavailable to lother contestants.

-Inits more specific embodiments, I provide a plurality of signalst B, Y and R, each of which haspairs of condiictors I ll'and Il, I2 and I3, I4 and I5, respectively.' @The-lamp B has connected in parallelism'with it'the relay I6 which actuates the double pole, singlethrow contact switch I'I, connecting the xed contacts thereof with the conductors I8 -and "I9, and connecting the movable part .contacts through the terminals 20 and 2|, to one terminal" 22 ofy a source of power, such as the battery 2, 3- through the conductor 24.

,The lamp Y hasl in"parallelisrn with it the relay ,25,which actuates the double pole, single throw lcontactswitch 26 connecting the spaced contactsgrth'ereof with' ther` terminals 2l and 28. The movable terminal 29 'is connected with the conductor II. Thejmovable part terminal 3B is connected with the line I5.

The lamp Rfha's 'connected with it in parallelism theY relayf 3l, which actuates the double pole, single throw 'contact switch 32, connecting the xed contacts thereofwith the terminals 33 and 34 and Aconnecting the movable part contacts with the terminals SSand 3S, respectively. Terminai 351s connected to terminal 21 by the ecnductor 31. Terminal 36 is connected to the conductorr I3, flierininal 33,1is `connected to the battery terminal22fby 'thefconductor 38. Terminal 34 is connectedto the conductorrIS. Battery terminal 39 is-connected by the conductor 40 to the terminal 4I of a master switch 42, which may make contact with anyv one of the terminals 42a, 42h, V42e or 42d,'or, alternatively the terminal 4I may beconnected with Aa plurality of the manuallyoperable switchesras shownior each contestaint. *1 1'. f

The combination of manually,controllable switches just-described may bereferred Vto as theauiz-master StatiOmQS.

amarre Conductors 43a, 43h, 43e and 43d connect the terminals 42a, 42h, 42e and 42d in parallelism with the terminals 44a, 44h, 44o and 44d; 45a, 45h, ao, l65d; and 46a, 4617, 46c and 46d, each carrying manually operable switches for the corresponding terminals 41a, 41h, 41o and 41d; and d8a., 48h, 48o and 48d; 49a, 49h, 49o and 49d. The assembly of switchesMaf-d, and 41a-d may be referred to as contestants station CB assembly of switches 46a-d and Mkt-d.VY may be referred to as contestants station CR.v Contestants station CB is connected to the line contestants station CY'is connected Yto the line 112,' contestants station CR is connected to the line it", by the assembly as shown.

Making reference to Figure 2, I have Shown the' assembly diagrammatically illustrated in Figures l and' 2 wherein the entireY assembly is shown mounted within a container 50 which has a panei'v 5l'Y supporting the contacts for the stations QS', CB, CY, CR. A shield 52 obscures the switch S2' from all sides except one. They panel 5i has visible therethrough the bfatteries 23 which are held down by connectors 53, to con-` nect the batteries in series, as will berreadily understood. The connectors 53- comprisev coiled springs which both mechanically and electrically connect the batteriesin series, as described.

With the assembly as provided, theA operation of the device as a game will now be described-1Y The quiz master has underl his control a series` of multiple choice questions A, B, C and D. I-Ie propounds the questions to the contestants, each of whom has designated to him stations CB, CY or CR and who may manually operate one bankof a multiple number of switches MaY-d at station CB; cdd-d at' station CY; 45e-#d at station CR. The qui; master being apprised oi the correctnessof questions A, B, C or :Drnoves the switch 42 to contact 42a, 42p, 42o or 42d. He thereupon audibly asks the questions ofY the contestants. The contestant rst to manually actuate the correct switch at hisstation will actuate the relay 16,24 'or 3|. The rst relay which is actuated illuminates the corresponding lamp or signal B, Y and R. The actuation lof one'relay', such as I1, locks out the actuation of relays 25 and 3| as the actuation of -oneV relay breaks the circuit for the lamps of thefother two circuits. v

Specifically, let us assume that the quiz master asks a multiple choice question in which one ci the alternatives A, B, C' or D is correct and the quiz master knows that A is correct. The quiz master thereupon moves the switch I2-,to the 42a contact. Terminals 44a, 45a, 46a connected in parallelism by the line 43a., are thereupon con` nected with the line d to the lines Hl", l2 and i4 only when the switch Ma, 45a or 46a. is closed. The nrst contestant to manually actuate the switch Ma, litaV or 46a will thereforeV connect the bulbs B, Y or R if he selects thecorrect answeri Should the contestant at station CB lrstjclose the switch fida, the lamp B will becon'ie illuminated, as will' also thus become activated' the relay I6. The movement of the switchescnntroll'ed thereby will break the circuitforthe-bulbs Y and R and these bulbs will notb'ecome illua minated, even if the lcontestants at stations CY and CR should likewise select the switches a and 46a, respectively.

From the above, it willigbe observed that the multiple switches selected-will only' illuminate 4 the signalling means B, Y and R if the correct answer is selected and likewise, the rst to select and manually operate the correct switch will render inactive the manually operable switches by the contestants at the other stations. The exception, however, will be in the event of a sirriultaneous operation of the correct switch by more than one contestant. Scores BS, YS and RS Yrecord the wins by each contestant.

It will thus be observed that I have provided a scoring device where, when contestants are given the opportunity of selecting the answer to a multiple choice question, the one first in point of time to select the proper answer may operate one of correspondingly numbered switch elements, to actuate a signal and such` precedence in point of time with regard to the other contestants, renders the signalling means of the other contestants inoperative.

While I have described the operational? the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 by a manual positioning ci the switch :i2 to make contactv with any one of the contacts da, 3213, 42e or 42d, I contemplate by my invention to provide an automatic closing of the switch corresponding to a correctly selected answer.

In Figure 3, I have shown diagrammatically means whereby the quiz master is relieved of the necessity for closing the proper circuit and1` automatic closing of. the circuit will lay the basis for the selection of the proper answer, as obtained by connecting a plate Eri' with the conductor 40. Each of the positions corresponding tothe terminals 62a, $213, 2c and d is provided with spring pressed contacts 5ta, een, Eric, 54d, normally resiliently urging camrning heads 55a, 55h, 515e, 55d carried thereby against the .plate 565. With such construction, the quiz master is provided with a series of cards madel ci insulating material. One ofthese cards is illustrate-d. On this card may be printed the multiple choice questions. VIhe' card also carries an electrical circuit shorting segment 5l, such as an aperture through the card spacially placed with regard to the `various positions. of the contacts 55m, 56h, 5de anddd.

Thequiz master, after orally asking thequestion, pushes the card 5t into position with relation to theiour contacts. The contact corresponding to the correct answer will be snorted tothe plate eli through the aperture 5l,-cutting out by insulation all other contacts. By this method, the quiz masters conscious efforts to' closethe proper switch may be eliminated. I may by this method likewise have a vcontacting plug which is not discernible by the quiz master, thereby to obscure from the quiz master himself the correct answer.` Y While I have disclosed as the means for signal-f ling illuminated devices with relays to cut out the actuation of the signalling lmeans by' the more tardy contestants, including relay circuits for this purpose, it is contemplated by me, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, to have a signalling means which mechanically cuts out the operation of a signalling means for the more tardy icontestants by the earlier operating'contestant'.l

In 'the embodiment illustrated in Figures'- and 6, slides 53a, 5th, 5to, 58d are provided withguide slots 59, mounting the slides upon guide 'rods B. The slides 53u?, 536, 58e, 58d have opposed .came mings'lots Eil` and t2, and abutment edges .63. Slides 58a, 58h, 5cc, Ecach have slots .64? which ride overA the Vstop rod E5 common to all slides. The stoprodi has one 'slot ESE, of a depthtoY permit aslideto pass thereover.4 It will beA observed by this construction that when the cutout 66 is aligned with any of the slides 58a, 58h, 590,5811, sliding movement may be imparted to the slide which is aligned with the slot 66, but ordinarily no movement can be given to the slides by reason of the locking action of the slots 64 and the lock bar 65.

In Figure 5 I have diagrammatically illustrated the mounting of the slides thus described within a container 61, springs 68 holding the slides spring biased against displacement from the normal position. Plungers 59 and l0 are provided in position and spaced corresponding to the leading edge of the cams 6I and 62 operating through apertures 1l and 12 serving as plunger guides.

The plungers 59 and l0 are each connected by the conductors 13, 'M to one terminal of a battery 15. The shanks of the plungers 69 and 'i9 at the lowermost portion have complemental contacts 16 and l1, each connected by the conductors 18 and 19 to the lamps 80 and 8|.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 mechanically serves to provide means for closing the lamp circuit 80 and 8| by pressing down either of the plungers 69 or 10. The first plunger to be actuated engages the camming slot 6I or 62. Such camming action is possible for the slides 58a, 58h, 58o, 53d only when the quiz master has moved the lock bar G5 to a predetermined position. The rst contestant operating the plunger 59 or 'l0 to depress the proper oneA serves to move this slide and bring the edge 93 opposite the opponents plunger, to lock the plunger against downward. movement. The device therefore mechanically makes possible the closing of one lamp circuit and the locking out of the other contestants lamp circuit.

While I have described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 an arrangement where a pair of contestants may operate the plungers 69 and l0, it will be understood that by increasing the number of plungers and correspondingly increasing the number of camming slots more than two contestants may operate the sliders 58a, 58h, 50c and 58d.

Thus I have provided both mechanically and electrically a game scoring device for judging contestants answers to multiple choice questions in point of time so that accuracy as well as priority of answering questions may be determined, and a plurality of signalling means may be actuated by contestants.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a game scoring device for judging contestants answers to multiple choice questions in point of time as well as accuracy, the combination which includes a plurality of signalling means each having manual operable control means under the control of contestants at spaced stations, and each control at such station having a multiple choice selection means by said manually operable means, and separate means interconnecting the said signalling means subject to each of said control means to make the other signal means inoperative by the prior operation of one of the control means, and means located at another station connected with the multiple choice selection means to limit the effectiveness of selection of the multiple choice selection means and the operation of the control means comprising inactivating means for said controlling means for the interconnecting means of said rst signalling means.

2. In a game scoring device for judging contestants answers to multiple choice questions in point of time, which includes in combination a plurality of signalling means comprising lamps, lamp circuits for the same, a plurality of parallel circuits for said lamps having manually operable independent switching means and a correspondingly numbered manually controllable switching means for predeterminedly closing said lamp circuits, and including a relay circuit in parallelism with said lamp circuit whereby the actuation of one lamp circuit will open the other lamp circuits.

3. In a game scoring device for judging contestants answers to multiple choice questions in point of time as well as accuracy, including in combination a plurality of banks of switching means which are under manual control, each switching bank being connected in parallel with the other, relay means in each circuit controlling contacts for opening the other lamp circuits and means to control the selection of any one of the switches in each bank, comprising switching means for selectively connecting any one of the parallel circuits.

4. In a game scoring device for judging contestants answers to multiple choice questions in point of time as well as accuracy, the combination which includes a plurality of banks of switching means which are under manual control, each 'switching bank being connected in parallel with the other, relay means in each circuit controlling contacts for opening the other lamp circuits and means to control the selection of any one of the switches in each bank, comprising switching means for selectively connecting any one of the parallel circuits comprising manual means.

5. In a game scoring device for judging contestants answers to multiple choice questions in point of time as well as accuracy, the combination which includes a plurality of banks of switching means which are under manual control, each switching bank being connected in parallel with the other, relay means in each circuit controlling contacts for opening the other lamp circuits and means to control the selection of any one of the switches in each bank, comprising switching means forvselectively connecting any one of the parallel circuits comprising a cooperating plate and contacts and including a scoring card having a predetermined spacial shorting section.

RICHARD I-I. DORF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,153,737 Van der Hoorn et al., Sept. 14, 1915 2,050,805 Pumar Aug. 11, 1936 2,104,718 Dougherty Jan. 4, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 45,507, Austria Jan. 10, 1911 

